Neurogenic Inflammation And The Skin Neural Modulation Of Cutaneous Inflammatory Reactions

This review presents current concepts in neurogenic inflammation, with particular regard to the skin. Although the participation of the peripheral nervous system in the development of inflammatory reactions has been known for a long time, recent advances in the understanding of the distribution, functions and targets of neural mediators has greatly enhanced interest and research on this topic. A role for peripheral nerve terminals not only in the vascular responses, but also in the modulation of inflammatory cell activities, has been proposed. Neuropeptides released from nerve endings could intervene in the various phases of the inflammatory process, contributing to the complex network of inflammatory mediators which locally regulate cell function, trafficking and trophism. An increasing body of evidence also supports an important role for these fibers in the pathogenesis of both spontaneous and experimentally-induced cutaneous inflammatory lesions. Indeed, recent findings indicate that the different neural transmitters take part in the mechanisms of cutaneous inflammatory reactions with specific, differentiated and often protective effects. Therefore, we would suggest that this involvement could be more properly described as neurogenic modulation of inflammatory reactions.